BLOSSOMING Irish folk singer Cara Dillon is mounting her biggest tour so far, in more ways than one.

Opening in Edinburgh, with Leeds City Varieties Music Hall next in line on Tuesday, Cara will be playing 16 dates, her most so far in one solo tour itinerary. Furthermore, her tour band has doubled in size.

"Previously we went out on the road as a three-piece with Sam Lakeman and Seth, his brother, which was a very intimate and laid-back way to play, and that was great for two years. But this time we'll be trying to re-create the sound of the new album, so we're now a six-piece."

Cara, who won two BBC Radio Folk Awards for her 2001 self-titled debut album, will be promoting the sequel, Sweet Liberty, released this week by Rough Trade.

With Cara will be her former cohort in Equation, Sam Lakeman, on keyboards; Donegal drummer Liam Bradley; Derry guitarist Paul Casey; James O'Grady on Uilleann pipes; and Ben Nicholls on double bass.

"In the past, in concert, we had to strip back the songs and compensate for other things not being there, and though there are songs that best suit just me and Sam, we always felt certain songs weren't fulfilling their potential in that form," says Cara.

"I know we had something very special going on in our 200 shows last year, but we all have our dreams of what we want to do next: and playing as a six-piece is what we want to do."

Cara, originally from Dungiven, County Derry, now lives with Sam in Somerset, where they recorded Sweet Liberty in their home studio. They relished the freedom of the home recording process, as they put together an album of five traditional songs, five Dillon-Lakeman compositions and covers of Standing On The Shore and Tommy Sands's There Were Roses.

The album title is taken from the track The Emmigrants Farewell but it applies equally to the circumstances in which the record took shape.

"We've been given great musical freedom by Rough Trade after feeling restricted when we were with Warner," says Cara. "With Rough Trade we've been able to do what we want; we've had that sweet liberty, which has been great for us."

Cara Dillon, Leeds City Varieties Music Hall, September 23. Tickets: £12 on 08456 441881.

Updated: 09:02 Friday, September 19, 2003